Notable: A win would give Illinois its first 2-0 start in the Big Ten since 1991. Illinois hasn't beaten a ranked opponent since defeating No. 25 Ohio State on Nov. 17, 2001. … The Illini are 1-10 against the Nittany Lions since Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1993. Illinois' only win came in 2001. Illinois led 9-3 at halftime last season and allowed Penn State just 184 total yards. … Penn State's three wins came against teams with a cumulative record of 1-11. … The Penn State defense allowed eight touchdowns in the last 10 games. … Paterno is two wins behind Florida State's Bobby Bowden, the all-time career leader in major college football. Since Paterno became Penn State head coach in 1966, there have been 798 head coaching changes in Division I-A.

Quotable: "They ran it a little on us last year and hurt us. We weren't fully prepared for it. We weren't expecting it and not sure of the assignments. It ended up cutting through us for a bunch of yards.'' -- Penn State linebacker Dan Connor on Illinois' spread option running game.